Release date - 1st January 2021
Book length - 270 pages Publisher - Question Mark Press BUY LINKS: UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Zoé from zooloosbookdiary.co.uk for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK After accepting a generous opportunity to start afresh, Leslie Wills, a young man from Stoke-on-Trent, eagerly begins his long-distance journey to the Scottish Highlands of Elphin, a settled village that sits huddled amongst the dominating mountains. Its people are welcoming, and the beauty of the land is great. But deep within its Highland paths, a location rests hidden from the public’s eye. A location which entices you to learn the truth of its troubled past. But once you bear witness to its sights and sounds, its presences will never allow you to forget. MY REVIEW An unusual tale that slowly builds up an atmosphere of tension and unease, ECHOES OF HOME by M.L. Rayner is a ghost story with an almost lyrical feel to it and is sure to please fans of this genre. Now that his mother has passed away, Leslie Wills is the only one left in the house where he grew up, and it's been years since he has had contact with any of his siblings. Feeling lost and unsure, Leslie must now try to figure out what his future will look like, but when his brother unexpectedly gives him an opportunity to move to the Scottish Highlands, Leslie jumps at the chance for a change. While everything seems to be welcoming and beautiful at the beginning, it isn't long before things become very strange. There is a haunting past alive here and it doesn't want you to ever forget. A classic ghost story, ECHOES OF HOME is the kind of book that you settle down with when you want to get cosy and lose yourself in a story for a while. The characters are interesting and the story is compelling, and its slow and steady pace suits the plotline as we begin to learn what has happened. Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. AUTHOR BIO Born and bred in the county of Staffordshire. Matt is a keen reader of classical, horror and fantasy literature and enjoys writing in the style of traditional ghost stories. During his working life, Matt joined the ambulance service in 2009, transporting critically ill patients all over the UK. After writing his first novel, Matt was welcomed into the family of Question Mark Press publishing and now dedicates his time on future releases. His hobbies include genealogy and hiking, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, Emma, his children, and his family. To keep up-to-date with this author, follow here: Twitter - twitter.com/M_L_Rayner Facebook - www.facebook.com/MLRayner/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/m.l.rayner/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!
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Release date - 20th May 2021
Book length - 454 pages Publisher - Headline BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com Ireland - www.bookstation.ie I want to thank Mark from www.plunkettpr.com for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK At the first wedding, there's a shock The second wedding is unexpected By the third, Delphie thinks nothing could surprise her. But she's wrong . . . Delphie is enjoying her brother's wedding. Her surprise last-minute Plus One has stunned her family - and it's also stopped any of them asking again why she's still single. But when she sees all the missed calls that evening, she knows it can't be good news. And she's right. Delphie has been living her best life, loving her job, her friends, her no-strings relationships and her dream house by the sea. Now she has to question everything she believed about who she is and what she wants. Is her mum right - is it time to settle down? Or does she want to keep on trying to have it all? Each wedding of a glorious summer brings a new surprise. And as everything Delphie thought she had is threatened, she has the chance to reshape her future . . . MY REVIEW As always, Sheila O'Flanagan has given us a relatable and thoroughly enjoyable story about life, love, and family, and I never wanted it to end. Delphie's family always complains that she works too much and they worry that she will end up alone if she doesn't start looking for love instead of focussing on her career. But what they don't seem to understand is that she genuinely loves and enjoys her job. Executive Assistant to a powerful and wealthy businessman means Delphie has a lot of responsibility in so many areas, and she knows that she is excellent at it. She has her beautiful cottage by the sea, a group of close friends whom she adores, and a job that she looks forward to going to in the morning. Why does her family think that being single means the end of the world for her? And when wedding season begins, everyone's eyes seem to focus on Delphie and her lack of a serious relationship. But when tragedy strikes, Delphie's perfectly controlled life is suddenly in disarray. And as Delphie must wade through new waters, she must ask herself what will really make her happy? I adore Sheila O'Flanagan's writing and I've read everything that she has ever written, and I have to say that THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL is my favourite book of them all. In a world where women can be anything, there is still a lot of pressure for women to become wives and mothers, and a lot of the time the pressure comes from family, and this book explores this idea in such a natural and authentic way. Delphie is amazing - determined, intelligent, witty, and empowering - and experiencing the many twists and turns alongside her as she figures out her new future, kept my eyes glued to the pages to the very end. There are moments of laughter and moments of sadness, weddings that will take your breath away alongside the realities of relationships, and even a girls trip thrown in for good measure, but most of all it is the characters that will capture your heart and make you want more as you turn the last page. THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL by Sheila O'Flanagan is everything you could wish for in a novel and as always, I cannot wait for Sheila's next book! AUTHOR BIO Sheila O'Flanagan is the author of nearly 30 bestselling novels including The Women Who Ran Away, Her Husband's Mistake, The Hideaway, What Happened That Night and The Missing Wife. She lives in Dublin with her husband. To keep up-to-date with this author, follow here when you click on the link: Website - www.sheilaoflanagan.com Twitter - twitter.com/sheilaoflanagan Facebook - www.facebook.com/sheilabooks Instagram - www.instagram.com/sheilaoflanagan Pinterest - www.pinterest.co.uk/sheilaoflanagan Release date - 13th May 2021
Book length - 384 pages Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Jenny from www.hodder.co.uk for giving me the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK As a professional bridesmaid, Sophie is secretly hired by brides to be their right-hand woman, ensuring their big day goes off without a hitch. From wrangling rowdy hen dos to navigating last minute portaloo cancellations, there's no problem she can't solve. So when she's employed by an actual Marchioness to help plan the society wedding of the year, it should be a chance for Sophie to prove just how talented she is. Of course, it's not ideal that the bride, Cordelia, is rude, difficult and determined to make Sophie's life a nightmare. It's also a bit inconvenient when Sophie finds herself drawn to Cordelia's posh older brother, who is absolutely off limits. And when a rival society wedding is announced, things get even more complicated . . . Can Sophie pull off the biggest challenge of her career, follow her heart and maintain her reputation - all while keeping her true identity hidden? MY REVIEW If you're looking for a book that will have you laughing until your sides hurt, then look no further than THE SECRET BRIDESMAID by Katy Birchall. While it may be an unconventional career, Sophie is certainly a success as a professional bridesmaid. Down to every last detail, Sophie will be there to make sure that your wedding will go off without a hitch, and there isn't much that she hasn't been asked to do at this point. But when she has to pull off a high society wedding for a nightmare bride, the stakes become a lot higher. Throw in a handsome brother, a rival wedding, and some hilarious disasters along the way, and this story really will leave you with a smile on your face. THE SECRET BRIDESMAID is a fun and flirty story about happiness, love, friendship, and finding what you want in life. The characters are likeable (most of them, anyway!) and as someone who inhales shows like Don't Tell The Bride, this book was right up my street. A light and laughter-filled story from start to finish, I thoroughly enjoyed THE SECRET BRIDESMAID by Katy Birchall and I cannot wait for more from this talented author. AUTHOR BIO Katy is the author of several young adult novels including The It Girl series, the Hotel Royale series and Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch. She is the co-author of the middle grade Lightning Girl series and Star Switch with Alesha Dixon, and the Find the Girl teen series with YouTube stars Lucy and Lydia Connell. Katy was proud to be the author of a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma for the Awesomely Austen series, a collection of Austen’s novels retold for younger readers. She has also written a non-fiction book, How to be a Princess: Real-Life Fairy Tales for Modern Heroines. Katy lives in London with her partner, Ben, and her rescue dog, Bono. The Secret Bridesmaid is her adult fiction debut. To keep up-to-date with this author, follow here: Website - www.katybirchallauthor.com Twitter - twitter.com/KatyBirchall Instagram - www.instagram.com/katybirchallauthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!! Release date - 6th May 2021
Book length - 402 pages Publisher - Hachette BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Mark from www.plunkettpr.com for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Summer has arrived in Derrybeggs and the biggest event of the year, the annual film festival, is less than a month away. But as plans begin to unravel, tensions mount in the sleepy seaside town. Newcomer Dot joined the festival committee as a way of fitting in and as the first guests arrive to her newly renovated beachside B&B - TV star Molly Cusack and businessman Ryan Schindler - Dot becomes more determined than ever that her move be the fresh start she so desperately needs. Meanwhile heartbroken Merry has returned home to Derrybeggs and is back working at her parents' café. Everyone in town knows that her dream life in Florida tragically fell apart, but Merry is the only one who knows the whole story... When an intriguing American visitor turns up at The Seashell Café with no memory of who he is or why he is in Derrybeggs, Dot, Merry and the rest of the town's residents must come together to try to help him. But will they manage to do this while also saving the film festival? MY REVIEW I've been struggling lately with reading and connecting with characters and settings, but I have to say I did not have this problem with THE SUMMER WE WERE FRIENDS by Fiona O'Brien. Warm and engaging characters and a setting that felt like home are only some of the wonderful things about this story that should be on every reader's summer lists this year. In the beautiful town of Derrybeggs there is a community that has known heartbreak and tragedy, happiness and laughter, but most of all they know the importance of friendship and kindness (well, most of them, anyway). With the anticipated film festival kicking off their much needed tourist season, everyone in Derrybeggs have their own reasons for wanting it to be a success, but with a new committee who want to do things their way and people butting heads, not everything is going to plan. Add in a charismatic and kind man who has forgotten who he is, an older actress who needs to write her memoirs as she grieves her two closest friends, and a hotshot business man from the US who cannot seem to commit, and things around Derrybeggs are only going to get more complicated. Fiona O'Brien brings laughter, sadness, and highs and lows of real life together in such a way that makes you connect instantly with the varied characters of this delectable little town, and everything has a wonderful authenticity to it which can often be missing in fiction. There are so many fabulous characters but I have to say that Dot is my favourite - for her strength, her kindness, and her bravery in starting a new life for herself. THE SUMMER WE WERE FRIENDS is exactly what I needed to get me out of my reading slump and I highly recommend this book to everyone. AUTHOR BIO Fiona O'Brien left an award winning career in advertising to write full time. None of My Affair, No Reservations, Without Him, The Love Book and The Summer Visitors have all been bestselling novels. She lives in Sandymount, Dublin. To keep up-to-date with this author, follow here: Website - www.fionaobrien.com Twitter - twitter.com/fionaobrienbks Facebook - www.facebook.com/TheSummerVisitors/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/fionaobrienbooks/ Release date - 4th May 2021
Book length - 308 pages Publisher - Question Mark Press BUY LINKS: UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Zoe from zooloosbookdiary.co.uk for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Joel Baxter is infamous for solving weird and bizarre cases that others avoid. So, when he receives an email from a teenage boy Tim saying his town is cursed, he cannot turn it down. “…I will more than likely be dead when you read this. There is nothing I can do about it. It’s the curse, and we’ve hit The Crazy Season.” Every 20 years, there are a handful of unexplained teenage deaths and it’s started again. With the help of his straight-talking friend Melody, they set out to get to the bottom of the alleged curse. Everybody in Black Rock has secrets and nobody wants to speak. The closer they get to truth the more Joel and Melody realise that their involvement is far from coincidental. MY REVIEW A quirky and unique new series with a difference, THE CRAZY SEASON by Jim Ody is a must-read for crime fiction and thriller fans alike. Joel Baxter's world was torn apart when an accident claimed the life of his daughter and left his wife languishing away on life support for months on end. He needs something to fill his days and occupy his mind so when he gets an email talking about a cursed town, he decides to look into it (after all, he is known for solving the strange and the unusual). But nothing in the town of Black Rock is quite what it seems and even with the help of his friend, Melody, there are many twists and turns along the way. And it soon becomes apparent that Joel was meant to be involved with this case from the very beginning ... Unconventional in the terms of a typical thriller, THE CRAZY SEASON draws the reader in with a fresh plotline and eccentric characters that burrow easily into your heart. I enjoyed getting to know Joel, and Melody brings that burst of colour and vibrancy that is missing from Joel's life. The cursed town and the secrets that exist in Black Rock are all excellently woven throughout the story so that the reader is kept on their toes, and there is truly never a dull moment in this book, which is no mean feat. Engaging characters and a story with an excellent thrill factor, THE CRAZY SEASON by Jim Ody is definitely a series that I want to continue, and I look forward to the next installment. AUTHOR BIO For 10 years Jim wrote for a number of websites reviewing and interviewing bands in his own unique way, as well as contributing dark poems and comedic features. He writes dark psychological/thrillers that have endings that you won’t see coming, and favours stories packed with wit. If you look closely, all of his books are connected... He has written 12 books, released and re-released by a number of publishers. He has also contributed to over a dozen anthologies. He's the author of the popular Hudson Bell series, and his new book 'Little Miss Evil' will be released on Halloween 2020. Look out for his book 'The Crazy Season' which is due out early 2021! Jim has a very strange sense of humour and is often considered a little odd. When not writing he will be found playing the drums, watching football and eating chocolate. He lives with his long-suffering wife and three beautiful children in Swindon, Wiltshire UK. To keep up-to-date with this author, follow here: Twitter - twitter.com/Jim_Ody_Author Facebook - www.facebook.com/JimOdyAuthor Instagram - www.instagram.com/jimodyauthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!! |
WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! Currently ReadingUPCOMING BLOG TOURS
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